History​

​History of Associationalism (Excerpts from The Mustard Seed: A History of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions by Harold Gregory, updated by Dr. Paul Stripling)

The Beginning of Associationalism

Associationalism had its beginning when the Gentile churches around the Mediterranean banded themselves together in Christian love and fellowship to promote an offering for the needy saints in the churches in and around Jerusalem. This was associational missions in action without a tag.

According to Davis History of Welsh Baptists, the first association in the modern era to employ an associational missionary was in 1653 when William Thomas was elected in the meeting at Swansea Church in Abergaveny. This they did “to establish the ancient order of things.”

When these hearty Baptists from England fled to America, they brought with them the pattern for associational missions. As is well known, in 1707 the Philadelphia Association was organized. Their minutes show they employed a missionary in 1722, and added another in 1771. In 1754 the Charleston, South Carolina Association (organized in 1751) sent Oliver Hart to the Philadelphia Association to request a missionary for their association. The mustard seed sprouted in America. John Gano visited Charleston in 1755 and spoke to their association when the great evangelist George Whitfield was present. The next spring Gano moved his family to a new field of service on the Yadkin River in North Carolina. In 1758 he moved to Lexington, Kentucky. After helping constitute the First Baptist Church of New York, and serving in the Revolutionary War as chaplain, he returned to Frankfort, Kentucky. There he continued pastoring churches until his death in 1804, just 41 years before the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention. He left quite a record of achievement, and a growing mustard tree. With 45 associations in all of America in 1800, 30 of them were in the South.

The Association and Doctrinal Purity

Associations were organized by the churches to strengthen their fellowship, to provide assistance to weaker churches, and to lead out in mission endeavors. One of the greatest factors of the association was in building a tremendous unity in faith and practice, which is an often unnoticed asset. Except for a few state conventions, the association is the only place where a church is asked by the Credentials Committee for a statement of their faith. In the state convention or the Southern Baptist Convention, it is assumed that this essential matter has been dealt with by the association. While the association as a democratic entity within itself has no authority over the churches, it does have the right to determine the rules for admission to its fellowship. It may also withdraw fellowship from a church that is not following their scriptural guidelines in faith and practice. This is a vital role as guardians of the doctrines, which is the basis of associational fellowship. While not as vigorous in doctrinal matters as in the early years of associationalism, associations are still the most strategic force for doctrinal integrity and unity in our convention. This is an essential part of their function which is often minimized or overlooked.

The Association in Full Partnership

In May 1974, a National Convocation on the Southern Baptist Association met in Ridgecrest. The Convocation marked the end of an era of critical study of the association by the denomination. The effect of the reappraisal was to recover the original philosophy of associations as a fellowship of churches with the responsibility of developing their own programs. This did not rule out involvement of denominational efforts; but it did accept the primary role of the association as giving priority to churches in their area, to local work, and promotional emphasis of the denomination in a secondary role. Each church and association is free to utilize any, or all of the programs offered by the denomination on a cafeteria basis.

Since 1974, the association could be considered a full partner in Southern Baptist life and work…Each church, association, state, and the Southern Baptist Conventions are sovereign within their own sphere of operation. Yet, with this unique independence of each, they are interdependent.

Considering the Need for a National Conference of Directors of Missions

Of course, Southern Baptist Pastors had their conference… Ministers of Education had a conference. Sunday School and Church Training personnel of the Sunday School Board and their counterparts in state conventions, along with seminary professors, had conferences. This presented a sizable number of strong influential leaders. Then too, church Music Directors with the Music Department of the Sunday School Board and Student Ministries Directors had their conferences. These organizations were functioning in an excellent manner, but the Directors of Missions had no such National Conference. There seemed to be no question as to the need for their organization.

In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s some of us who felt the pressure dared to discuss the problem. We needed an organization in which Directors of Missions would be able to consider specifically matters of importance to them. Because they had been so recently in the pastorate and enjoyed the inspiration of the Pastors Conference programs, they were hesitant to speak favorably of such a Conference. Others went with their wives to the National Woman’s Missionary Union meeting. Only a few of them felt a need for such an organization…Very gradually interest in the idea grew. Wherever small numbers of us would meet or eat together at a Convention, Ridgecrest, or with some of the directors from our own state, we would discuss the need and matters involved in beginning such a conference. Such things as when we would meet, where, what kind of program, and how to promote the meeting were in the forefront. One of the things that was sure, we would have to meet in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention. We would have to charge dues that would be minimal because of the low salaries of most of the men. Many did not even have their way paid to the Convention. Gradually the idea took shape, and after some discussion at Ridgecrest Home Mission Week in 1959, I (Harold Gregory) resolved to try to follow through with getting a Conference for Directors of Missions organized.

Early in 1960, Harold Gregory sent out a letter to about 500 Directors of Missions about another matter. Included was a postcard on which they might respond as to whether they favored organizing a Conference for Superintendents of Missions, as they were still known. He got a good response from the men, and about two out of three indicated they favored such a Conference. Some still expressed reservations, and even some that agreed to the idea were not strong in their conviction for it.

On March 22, 1960, I sent letters to four brethren in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. I requested they meet me in Chattanooga to plan a program for the meeting to be held in Miami, Florida, May 17, 1960. Only two of these were able to attend: J. C. Williamson of Dalton, Georgia and Sam Welch of Chattanooga. We developed the program for the first meeting, and I sent out over 500 letters to Superintendents of Missions, announcing the meeting at 1:30pm, Tuesday, May 17, at First Baptist Church of Miami Beach.

Fourteen people from nine states were invited to be a part of the program. There were 43 present for the first session…Ray Dobbins presided in a splendid way, even though he was busy as Chairman of Arrangements for the Convention. Dues were set at $2.00 per year to help with mailing information to the more than 500 potential members…They voted to elect officers, and asked that a meeting be planned for the next year in St. Louis.

H. S. Sauls, Superintendent of Missions of Mobile Baptist Association was elected Chairman; Harold King, Director of Education and Promotion, Nashville Baptist Association, Secretary; and Marshall Mines, of San Francisco was elected Vice-President. They also elected a Program Committee for the following year when the Conference would meet in St. Louis, Missouri: Harold D. Gregory, Tennessee; J. Ray Dobbins, Florida; and Marshall Mines, California.

After much study, on June 10, 2013, the SBCADOM voted to become the SBCAL, the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders. A revised Constitution & Bylaws was approved that day along with a new leadership structure.